Buoyant cushion device



Filed March 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Charles E Mcmhcm` June 25, 1963 c. E. MANHART 3,094,723

BUOYANT CUSHION DEVICE Filed March 26, 1959V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,094,723 BUOYANT CUSHION DEVICE Charles E. Manhart, 3133 SW. 25th Terrace, Miami, Fla. Filed Mar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 802,067 3 Claims. (Cl. 9337) The present invention relates to a new and novel buoyant cushion device, and more particularly to such a device which is also adapted to be employed for various other useful purposes.

The present invention is primarily designed to be used as a life preserver apparatus and in this connection is adapted to be secured to a person for maintaining his head above Water. Itis, of course, desirable .to provide a satisfactory life preserver apparatus which will additionally serve other useful purposes such as providing a cushion when not used as a life preserver. This type of combination apparatus is now in great demand by the airlines for use in over-the-water flights. In such applications, the device must not only provide a comfortable cushion, but also mus-t be of very compact and light-weight construction.

, In conventional aircraft, the

passengers normally sit in reclining chairs, and it is a common practice to employ supplementary pillows or cushions which are placed behind the neck of a passenger for providing greater comfort `and facilitating sleeping, It is accordingly a particular object of the present invention to provide a device which will serve as a very comfortable cushion for use by passengers when sitting in reclining seats, and which lalso serves as a life preserver which will insure that the head of a person utilizing the device is maintained above `water when in use during emergencies and the like.

The cushion according to the present invention includes a body means which is so contoured as to provide an arcuate portion which is adapted to extend around the neck of `a person, and a pair of opposite end portions which generally will extend over the shoulders. The body means is formed of a waterproof material yand includes a major inflatable portion and a peripherally extending ange portion. A soft resilient neck band is provided in the arcuate portion for the purpose of comfort and for preventing chaiing of the neck of a person.

A valve is mounted in the body means in such position that when the cushion 4is disposed about the neck of a person, the valve will be readily accessible to the person, the valve being of a type which can be clamped between the teeth and drawn out and then inflated, and subsequently pushed back in by the teeth such that there is noA necessity for employing the hands in inating or deating the cushion.

It is, of course, essential to provide a hermetic seal such that the loss of air will be prevented when employing the device as a life preserver, and to this end, the device is provided with a double seal for insuring satisfactory operation. This double seal is Iformed by sealing two sheets of material to one another adjacent the outer peripheries thereof. In addition, an elongated sealing strip is provided adjacent the portions of the two sheets which are sealed to one another, the sealing strip being infolded upon itself and being sealed to the two sheets whereby the double seal is eifected for preventing escape of air from the cushion. In this manner a very practical and inexpensive construction is provided for eiciently sealing the cushion.

` The ange portion of the body means is also provided with a suitable attaching means. A harness means in the form -of an elongated cord or the like is secured to this attaching means in such a manner that a pair of depending loops are provided. The arms of a person employing the cushion extend through these loops such that the loops 3,094,723- Patented June 25, 1963 are disposed under the arms of a person, thereby positively connecting the cushion to the person and maintaining the cushion in proper position at the base of the neck for supporting the per-son in the desired upright position with th-e head out of the water.

Since the cushion is readily inatable or deatable, the pressure therewith may, of course, be adjusted at will according to the particular purpose for which it is being employed. It is evident that the cushion being contoured to lit about the neck of a person is well adapted to serve `as a cushion when 'a person is lying down or resting in a reclining seat. It is believed evident that there are many additional uses of this apparatus, as for example, it may be employed for supporting any portion of the anatomy wherein it is desired to provide a'resilient support such `as used in hospitals. In such a case, it may be placed under the small of the back or under the legs as desired. It can, of course, also be employed for supporting the head when watching television or driving a car. In short, the device is so contoured that it is adapted to t about the body of persons due to its arcuate portion, and accordingly, it is quite useful as an all-purpose cushion.

An additional important use of the device is in connection with its main purpose as a cushion for use in airlines. It can also be employed Ias sa crash cushion during emergencies for which purpose it is insulated to a spfongy condition. The cushion can :then be placed in the lap and the person bends forward and lowers his head into the arcuate portion of the cushion. The hands are then grasped under the legs and all muscles are tensed in preparation for la crash landing. The cushion can also, of course, be placed around the head of the pilot to protect against crash impacts yagainst the instrument panel.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel buoyant cushion device which is adapted to support a p-ersons head out of the water when utilized as a life preserver.

Another object is the device which also serves as a comfortable cushion means adapted to tit about the neck of a person and prevent the stifr neck which is commonly caused by conventional pillows employed by airline passengers or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buoyant cushion device including a valve means which is readily operable by a person without employing his hands;

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a buoyant cushion dev-ice which provides a double seal for insuring against loss of air from the cushion.

Yet another object tof the invention is to provide a cushion device which is simple, compact, and inexpensive andr FIG. l illustrates the cushion'in operative position about a persons neck;

l FIG. 2 is -a plan view of the cushion according .to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a Isection-al v-iew taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; f

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIGS is a plan Iview of the device with -a portion of one sheet peeled :away from :the other sheet-of the body means illustrating Vthe manner in which the two sheets are secured to one another;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View .taken along Vline 6*-0-6of` FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

nism of the apparat provision of Ia buoyant cushion Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference `characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the body means indicated generally by reference numberal includes a major inflatable portion i111 and a peripherally extending ilange i12 which projects out- Wardly from the major inliatable portion. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body means is contoured such :that it tits over the shoulders and about the neck of a person employing the device as a life preserver, portion 13 `of flange 12 being arcuate in configuration, and having a soft resilient neck band l14 formed of rubber or similar material mounted thereon .such that chaiing of the neck of -a person is prevented.

It should be understood tthat the outset that the body means is actually formed of two substantially identical sheets of material which are secured to one another, each of these sheets of material having substantially the configuration shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Accordingly, one of the sheets as seen in FIG. 2 will be described, it being clear that another identical sheet is .attached thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that each of che sheets includes the aforementioned major inflatable portion Iand a narrow lllange extending completely therearound, the flange of each of the sheets having seven ears or enlarged portions formed integral therewith, these ears being provided. with reference numerals -26. The ears of cach of the sheets are aligned with one another and metal grommets extend through the aligned ears for providing eyes 21V-26 in the respective ears, these eyes serving as 4attaching means for supporting a harness from the body means.

The harness means according to the present invention m-ay be formed of a nylon cord 30, for example, one end portion 31 of which is' looped through eye 20' and knotted tol secure this end to the body means, and the opposite end portion 32 of the cord being looped through eye 26' and knotted to secure this end portion in place. It is evident that .the cord is of s-ufcient length to provide depending looped por-tions 33 and 34 which are adapted to lit under the arms of a person Ias seen most clearly in FIG. 1f, the cond passing .th-rough eyes 21', 2.2', 24 and 25 and also being looped through and knotted lat eye 23 at the central portion of the 'cord for maintaining -t-he two looped portions 33 and 34 of the correct size.

It will be noted that the loutermost ends 35 and 36 of the-cord depend at the forward portion of the cushion and are of suicient length such that these free end portions may be knotted together as indicated 4at y40 in FIG. 1 for fastening the cushion in operative position and positively preventing the device from becoming disengaged from the person.

It will be noted particularly from an inspection of FIG.`

2. that the body means 10 includes a longitudinal rear border which joins transverse materially shorter end borders and also includes a longitudinal front border including the central inwardly curving substantially semicircular open neck receiving recess which has opposite ends joining longitudinally extending short substantially straight portions of the front border. It will also be noted that the rear border portion of the body means is of materially greater length than the body of the front border side thereof whereby the shorter end portions are in forwardly convergent relationship. With this arrangement, the ears 21 and 25 are more suitably located for bringing the cord 30 up under the arm pits to the front of the body without causing discomfort or inconvenience to the wearer.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 of the drawing, the body means actually comprises two substantially identical sheets 45v and 46, each of these sheets including an outer surface of nylon twill fabric or the like and including an inner coatingformed` of neoprene or similar material, the outer layers being. indicated by reference numerals 45 and 46 and the inner layers being indicated by reference numerals 45 and 46.

This material including the nylon 4 and the neoprene provides a very effective waterproof material which has the desired tensile and tear properties and which is adapted to maintain air within the body means over extended periods of time.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flange portions 12 of each of the sheets 45 and 46y are in sealing engagement with one another, such sealing engagement being provided by means of cold vulcanizing or suitable adhesive means in a conventional manner. This sealing engagement between the flange portions of each 4of the sheets provides a first hermetic seal for the body means.

A second hermetic seal for the body means is provided by an elongated strip of sealing material indicated generally by reference numeral 50, this strip of sealing material being formed of a material similar to that of sheets 45 and 46. As seen especially in FIG. 6 of the drawing, strip 50 is infolded upon itself so as to provide two legs 51 and 52 defining an open end 53 which faces toward the inner portion of the body means and an outer end 54 which is closed and which faces toward the liange portion of the associated sheet 45. The strip of sealing material 50 is lirst mounted upon sheet 45 for example as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is sealed to sheet 45 by means of cold vulcanizing or the like by using neoprene cement, and the sealing strip folded upon itself as shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the sealing strip is continuous and extends adjacent the ange portion 12 of sheet 45 and extends completely therearound. The opposite sheet 46 is then similarly sealedv to the upper face of leg 51 of the sealing strip as by cold vulcanizing, and the flange portion of sheet 46 sealed to the flange portion of sheet 45. The sealing strip is so mounted that the neoprene coated surfaces thereof are in engagement with the neoprene surfaces of the inner faces of the two sheets 45 and 46, and the overall arrangement is such that a double seal is provided for the body means as seen for example in FIG. 4 wherein the liange. portions I2. of the two sheets 45'ancf 46 provide a first seal and the sealing strip 50 provides a secondA seal. This double seal very effectively prevents undesired loss of air from the interior of the cushion when it is in inllated condition. As' an additional feature, the inner facing surfaces ofthe two legs 51 and 52 of the sealing means maybe secured to one another at spaced points therealong to increase the strength of the structure.

As seen in FIG. 1, a valve means indicated generally by reference-numeral 60 is provided in sheet 45 of the body means and is located in such a position that the wearer can merely turn his head and grasp a portion of the valve in his mouth for inflating the body means when employed as a life preserver.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the valve mechanism 60 is mounted within a suitable opening 61 provided in sheet 45 of the body means. The valve includes a cylindrical casing 62' having. an integral annular flange 63 projecting laterally outwardly therefrom. A substantially disc-shaped piece of material 65 is provided with a central opening 66 and is suitably secured as by an adhesive or the like to the under surface of sheet 45 and flange `63 for clamping the flange in place and maintaining casing 62 in the position shown.

Casing 62 is provided with a central bore 70' in the upper portion thereof which opens into an eniarged cylindrical cavity 71 in the lower portion thereof, a central aperture 72 being formed in the lower portion of the casing for providing communication with cavity 71. A plunger 75 is slidably mounted within fbore 70*` and forms a tight iit therewith, plunger 75 having a central bore 7 6 formed therein, and a pair of circumferentially extending slots 77 are provided through the wall of the lower portion of the plunger for providing communication between the bore 76 of the plunger and cavity 71 within the casing. The lower end of plunger 75 includes an enlarged annular collar 78 which is adapted to limit upward movement of the plunger, and a lower plug portion 80` which has a tight sliding lit within aperture 72 of the casing for sealing the aperture. i

Casing 62 and plunger 75 are each formed of a suitable water-resistant material such as plastic, and the upper end portion of plunger 75 is provided with serrations 85 which are adapted to be grasped within the teeth of a person for facilitating grasping of the plunger such that the plunger can be actuated back and forth when grasped between the teeth. It is evident that when the plunger is in the closed position shown that the interior of the body means will be sealed With respect to the outside atmosphere, and that by moving the plunger upwardly, plug portion 80 moves out of aperture 72 and the interior of the body means is vented such that it may be inflated, or deated as desired. It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided :a new and novel buoyant cushion device which is adapted to be readily secured in position about the neck and shoulders of a person and will etticiently support the head of a person in upright position as required of such life preserver devices. Tests have shown that with the arms of -a person slipped through the depending loops the life preserver provides a buoyancy of greater than Ififteen pounds wherein only seven pounds of buoyancy are ordinarily required to hold a persons head above water. It is therefore evident that the invention apparatus provides a considerable safety factor in this respect. The cushion also obviously is adapted to serve as a very comfortable cushion for either the neck or other portions of the anatomy. A valve means is provided which is readily accessible to the mouth of a person such that the cushion can be inflated without using the hands. The cushion additionally provides a double seal for insuring against undesired loss of air from the interior of the cushion, and of course also additionally serves as a double seal for preventing the entrance of water into the cushion. The cushion is quite simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, and yet is quite sturdy and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A buoyant cushion designed to partially encircle the human neck and rest on the shoulders, said cushion comprising ya substantially flat, hollow `and air tight body characterized by a longitudinal rear border joining transverse materially shorter end borders and a longitudinal front border defined by a central inwardly curving, substantially semi-circular open neck receiving recess between and having opposite ends each joining longitudinal- 1y extending short substantially straight portions, said body including a major inflatable portion and a bordering encircling ange portion, the body being formed in two duplicate parts, each lof said duplicate parts having an enlarged outward-ly projecting ear section at each of several corners formed at points of joinder between said rear border and said end borders, between each end border and an end of Ia short straight front portion and between each of the ends of said recess and an end of a short straight front portion, there being also an outwardly projecting ear section on each -duplicate pant midway between the ends of said longitudinal rear border, said ear sections each having tan opening therethrough, the bordering and encircling flange portions and the ear sections of the duplicate parts being sealed together forming flanges and apertured ears of duplicate thickness of material, a harness means consisting of a cord passing doubled midway of its ends through the tapertured ear which is located midway between the ends of said longitudinal Irear border and tied to the latter ear and said cord then having its ends extending in opposite directions from the latter ear through the apertured ears at the two ends of an end border and then passing through and being tied in an aper-tured ear at an end of the recess, there being terminal lengths of said cord extending from the latter ears for tying together across and between the ends of said recess, and valve means in a wall of the body for inflating `and deflating the body.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said valve means is located relatively close to a side and to one end of said recess whereby such valve means may be engaged by the mouth of a person whose neck is positioned in the recess.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the rear border portion of the body is of materially greater length than 'the body at the front border side thereof whereby the said shorter end borders are in forwardly converge-nt relation. 1

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 824,664 Krieger June 26, 1906 969,439 Archer Sept. 6, 1910` 1,127,930 Smack Feb. 9, 1915 1,442,746 Timberlake Jan. 16, 1923 1,470,908 Catanzaro Oct. 16, 1923 2,621,342 Boyle Dec. 16, 1952 2,692,994 King Nov. 2, 1954 2,698,496 Miller Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 490,037 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1936 111,321 Sweden July 25, 1944 79 025 Denmark Mar. 7, 1955 

1. A BUOYANT CUSHION DESIGNED TO PARTIALLY ENCIRCLE THE HUMAN NECK AND REST ON THE SHOULDERS, SAID CUSHION COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT, HOLLOW AND AIR TIGHT BODY CHARACTERIZED BY A LONGITUDINAL REAR BORDER JOINING TRANSVERSE MATERIALLY SHORTER END BORDERS AND A LONGITUDINAL FRONT BORDER DEFINED BY A CENTRAL INWARDLY CURVING, SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR OPEN NECK RECEIVING RECESS BETWEEN AND HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS EACH JOINING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SHORT SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT PORTIONS, SAID BODY INCLUDING A MAJOR INFLATABLE PORTION AND A BORDERING ENCIRCLING FLANGE PORTION, THE BODY BEING FORMED IN TWO DUPLICATE PARTS, EACH OF SAID DUPLICATE PARTS HAVING AN ENLARGED OUTWARDLY PROJECTING EAR SECTION AT EACH OF SEVERAL CORNERS FORMED AT POINTS OF JOINDER BETWEEN SAID REAR BORDER AND SAID END BORDERS, BETWEEN EACH END BORDER AND AN END OF A SHORT STRAIGHT FRONT PORTION AND BETWEEN EACH OF THE ENDS OF SAID RECESS AND AN END OF A SHORT STRAIGHT FRONT PORTION, THERE BEING ALSO AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING EAR SECTION ON EACH DUPLICATE PART MID- 